“Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto Thee will I pray. My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up” (Psalm 5:1-3). “Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they are ever praising You” (Psalm 84:4).

My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
take all my guilt away,
O let me from this day
be wholly thine!

At age 18 the Scottish preacher, Robert Murray McCheyne, had already begun his life-long habit of spending a quiet time with God each morning. He wrote in his journal on Feb. 23, 1834, “Rose early to seek God and found Him whom my soul loveth. Who would not rise early to meet such company?”

I was convicted as I read McCheyne’s journal entry since I’m more prone to hit the snooze button than to get excited about rising early to meet with God. The Psalmist also entreated God during the morning hours, “Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto Thee will I pray. My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.”

We should pray earnestly in the morning before our minds get caught up in the day’s activities and inevitable problems. As we pray we also commit ourselves to God and wait expectantly for Him to guide us in all His ways throughout our day; in our activities, in our relationships, and in the midst of our problems as well.

Today let’s focus on just this phrase in our daily text: “O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.” More specifically, “I… will look up.”

This speaks of a necessary, willful, upward outlook in life. Upon awakening each day we do well to make this our intentional focus. It’s easy to get lost and disoriented in the course of the day’s activities, planned or otherwise. There are many unknowns. There are scores of voices beckoning us. There are looming questions about what’s around the next bend.

As we look up and focus on God, may we follow His voice that clearly directs us, “This is the way, walk in it.”

Yes, indeed, we hold our heads high because we approach the throne of grace with confidence. But we also bow our hearts in humility as we recognize our position as humble servants of Almighty God!

Be encouraged today,

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, there is a place of quiet rest and spiritual uplifting when we draw near to You. So many activities, attractions, and affections rival for our attention. But when we prioritize by giving You first place we give opportunity for You to “show your love to a thousand generations of those who love you and keep Your commandments.” We continually offer to You a sacrifice of praise through our lips that confess Your name and through our lives that reveal Your transforming power at work within us; as we do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with You, our God. We bless and praise You in Jesus’ name. Amen.

This last Saturday we took Ester to the Philadelphia airport for a trip to see her Aunt Elaine (Brooksyne’s sister)

Saying farewell to Ester.

After dropping Ester off we drove through Philadelphia and passed this famous church. Does anyone recognize it? Two preachers we have appreciated served this church a combined total of 65 years! (Answer below resource section)

Boathouse row along the frozen Schuylkill River.
(Click on photo for larger view)
We passed in the afternoon but this site is especially beautiful at nght.
(Click here for photo)

Yesterday we toured the Hopewell Furnace historical site in Berks County, PA where they built some of the first cast iron wood stoves.
It’s an interesting place

The church photo is the Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. The pastors some of you have heard of are Donald Grey Barnhouse and James Montgomery Boice.

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